Nokia Networks bags 3G contract from Bharti Airtel

Nokia Networks bags 3G contract from Bharti Airtel

Will provide advanced radio platform and services as Bharti Airtel enhances its 3G network in Mumbai, West Bengal and Bihar

Deal marks India’s first dual band, dual carrier 3G implementation
 
New Delhi, India – Nokia Networks today announced that it has bagged a 3G contract from Bharti Airtel that will help Airtel enhance its 3G network in the Mumbai, West Bengal and Bihar telecom circles* using Nokia’s latest Single RAN (radio access network) Advanced platform. The deal includes an India-first dual band, dual carrier 3G network implementation, refarming 900 MHz to complement Mumbai’s existing 3G network on 2100 MHz. This will enable higher throughput and thus improved 3G services for Bharti Airtel’s customers.

Abhay Savargaonkar, Director Network Services Group, Bharti Airtel said, “As a brand committed to enrich lives, we continue to offer innovative data services like One Touch Internet, Re 1 entertainment store et al empowering millions across the country to leverage the power of mobile internet on our smartphone network. The association with Nokia is in line with this and will enable millions of customers to experience an enhanced 3G network in these circles.”

“With Indian subscribers increasingly looking for high-speed mobile broadband services, 3G is a very important technology option that operators in India need to embrace to fulfill the demands of their subscribers,” said Rohan Dhamija, Partner and Head of India and South Asia, Analysys Mason. “Expanding 3G networks as in this deal, and upgrading the existing 2G networks to 3G across the country by operators will allow subscribers to enjoy rich multi-media applications and services such as their favorite movies, online games, and sports like cricket without buffering on their mobile screen. Ubiquitous 3G network coverage in India means availability of high-speed broadband services to subscribers and increased revenue for operators.”

“This deal bolsters our long-term partnership with Bharti Airtel, and we are committed to helping the operator provide further improved mobile broadband experience for its customers,” said Sandeep Girotra, Vice President and Head of India region, Nokia Networks. “While Nokia’s Single RAN Advanced platform will ensure a reliable 3G mobile broadband connectivity, our comprehensive services will ensure smooth deployment.”

Under the contract, Nokia Networks will supply its Single RAN Advanced platform, based on its energy-efficient Flexi Multiradio 10 Base Station**. This multi-standard radio platform is optimal because it will also support Bharti Airtel in its TD-LTE rollout and pave the way to FDD-LTE in the near future. In addition, Nokia Networks will deploy its Flexi Lite Base Station, a small all-in-one base station optimized for indoor and outdoor micro-cell deployments to provide the best coverage in densely crowded areas. Nokia will also supply its extremely compact, highly scalable and flexible multi-technology, all-IP multicontroller RNC (mcRNC).

Nokia’s NetAct network management system will enable effective monitoring and management of Bharti Airtel’s networks. Nokia Networks will also provide a range of services such as network planning and optimization, network implementation, network operations, and care services including hardware and software maintenance as well as competence development.

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Bharti Airtel to offer voice services to LTE customers via GSM #MWC13

Bharti Airtel a leading global telecommunications company with operations in 20 countries across Asia and Africa, will soon launch voice services for its 4G, TD-LTE (time division duplex long term evolution) customers in Pune, India through its existing GSM network. The operator has selected Nokia Siemens Networks to deploy its Circuit Switched FallBack (CSFB) voice solution in the operator’s live TD-LTE network in the city. With CSFB, the network can transfer customers to GSM platform to make and receive voice calls and access voicemails while retaining the experience of ultra-fast data services on 4G smartphones.


Jagbir Singh, CTO & Director – Network Services Group, Bharti Airtel, said, “At Airtel, it is our constant endevour to offer compelling service propositions to our customers. Bharti Airtel has the advantage of pan-India GSM and 3G networks and with the deployment of cutting edge CSFB functionality, we will have the flexibility of using either or both the networks to support voice services on our TD-LTE platform. The solution will enable our 4G customers to enjoy high-quality voice services on GSM network and ultra-fast data services on TD-LTE platform – thereby allowing them to have a unified experience on a 4G handset. Bharti Airtel has always been at the forefront in the Indian telecom revolution and now with Nokia Siemens Networks CSFB solution, we are pleased to provide leadership in setting another technology standard by introducing voice services to TD-LTE customers.”


Thorsten Robrecht, head of Mobile Broadband portfolio management at Nokia Siemens Networks, said “This achievement of enabling world-first voice call fallback from TD-LTE to GSM in live network is yet another milestone in our efforts to strengthen the commercialization and deployment of TD-LTE technology globally. Our CSFB assures a successful and reliable mechanism for voice services alongside any LTE data service.”


Nokia Siemens Networks has deployed its radio network elements in addition to its voice core and packet core network elements to the commercially launched network of Bharti Airtel in Pune. The company deployed its Single RAN (radio access network) platform based on its award-winning, energy-efficient Flexi Multiradio Base Station. In addition, the company deployed its Mobile Softswitching (MSS) systems and its Liquid Core-based** Evolved Packet Core (EPC) platform, including Flexi NS (Network Server) and Flexi NG (Network Gateway). Nokia Siemens Networks’ network management system NetAct has been implemented to monitor, manage and optimize the whole network.


With its comprehensive mobile broadband and services portfolio, Nokia Siemens Networks is a leading supplier of CSFB core capability. The company has delivered CSFB to more than 30 customers across the globe.

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Nokia to foray into Tablet Market?

Nokia may launch tablets very soon according to media reports, to please the investors. And the company will also launch "hybrid" smart mobile devices to face the competition in the market.

The current tablet market is the big opportunity for companies to establish and sale their products in the market. Nokia has been the leading brand in India in the mobile handset market.

Soon the mobile maker - Nokia may unveil its tablet products in the market. It was told by the outgoing Nokia's chairman Jorma Ollila to media.

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